Returning to Paradise Day 7: Mourning

📚 Scripture Readings: Hebrews 11:24-12:2 | John 1:43-51

🛠️ The Ladder of Divine Ascent – Step 7: Mourning

The Paradox of Joyful Sorrow

In The Lord of the Rings, when Gandalf falls in the battle with the Balrog, the Fellowship is plunged into mourning. Their leader, their guide, the one who seemed invincible, is suddenly gone. They weep. They struggle to go on. But their grief transforms them. It binds them together, makes them braver, and strengthens their resolve to complete the quest.

This is the paradox of holy mourning—when embraced in the right way, grief becomes a source of strength.

Step 7 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent teaches us about mourning—not as despair but as a holy grief that leads to purification, transformation, and joy.

St. Basil the Great says, “The mourning of the righteous washes away the filth of sin and prepares the soul for divine joy.”

In other words, mourning is not just feeling sad about our sins—it is a deep longing for God that moves us to repentance and action.

This is why Christ says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

The world tells us to avoid sorrow at all costs—to numb our grief with distractions, pleasures, and entertainment. But the saints tell us that sorrow for sin is the gateway to true joy. St. John of Kronstadt said, ”Mourn over your sins daily, and the Lord will turn your sorrow into joy unspeakable.”

And today’s Scriptures show us why.

Step 7 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Mourning

St. John Climacus teaches that true mourning is a gift—a spiritual medicine that cleanses the soul. He writes:

“Mourning is a golden spur in a soul which is stripped of all attachment and all ties. It brings a great detachment from everything and, when it persists, it leads to perfect love for God.”

This means that when we mourn rightly, we lose our desire for the things of the world and hunger for God alone.

The Saints warn, however, that there is a false mourning—a worldly sorrow that leads to despair:

St. Anthony the Great says, “Mourn not for the dead with despair, but for your own sins with hope, for the Lord is merciful.”

St. Maximus the Confessor says, ”Blessed is he who mourns not for earthly loss, but for the loss of communion with God.”

In other words, we must weep over the right things—not over lost wealth or wounded pride, but the distance between our hearts and God.

This is why mourning is connected to repentance. St. Isaac the Syrian says:

“This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it on vain pursuits.”

St. Theophan the Recluse says, ”Mourning over our fallen nature opens the door to grace, for God comforts those who weep with a contrite heart.”

Today’s Scriptures show us what happens when mourning leads us to faith and endurance.

Hebrews 11:24-12:2 – The Suffering That Leads to Glory

The Epistle reading reminds us of Moses, who “chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” (Hebrews 11:25)

This is the mourning of righteousness. Moses could have stayed in Pharaoh’s palace, living a life of comfort, but he chose to suffer for the sake of God.

The passage goes on to list the martyrs and saints who endured mocking, imprisonment, and death, all for the sake of the Kingdom. Their sorrow was not wasted—it became their path to glory.

And then comes the great call:

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Mourning, when joined to faith, becomes fuel for the race.

John 1:43-51 – Mourning Leads to Vision

In the Gospel reading, we meet Nathaniel, a man who longs for God. When Philip tells him about Jesus, he is skeptical: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)

But when Jesus sees him, He says:

“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:48)

What was Nathaniel doing under the fig tree? Many believe he was praying, mourning for the state of Israel, longing for the Messiah.

And because he mourned, he was ready to see Christ when He appeared.

Jesus tells him:

“You will see greater things than these… You will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:50-51)

This is what mourning does—it opens our eyes to see God.

The Need to be Purposeful - Don’t Skip Past This!

The first time I read The Ladder of Divine Ascent, I came to Step 7 and thought, Hopefully, one day, I’ll be spiritually advanced enough to mourn for my sin and separation from God. Then, I moved on. I saw mourning as something that might naturally develop in me over time rather than something I needed to cultivate actively.

But the second time I read the book, I realized this was a fundamental misunderstanding. St. John Climacus does not present mourning as an emotion that may or may not arise but as a step we must choose to take. We must work at it if we are not naturally moved to tears over our sin. How? He gives several practical steps.

First, we must cut out distractions—he warns that mourning is “easily lost” through noise, bodily cares, talkativeness, and levity. Second, we must meditate on our mortality and the reality of divine judgment—he instructs us to “scrutinize the dark abyss of eternal fire, the unsympathetic and inexorable Judge, the bottomless pit of subterranean flame.” This is not to instill despair but to awaken urgency. Third, we must persist even when mourning does not come easily. He assures us that the effort is worthwhile, for “tears shed from fear intercede for us; but tears of all-holy love show us that our prayer has been accepted.”

Authentic mourning is not something we passively wait for—it is a labor we embrace, trusting that God will bless and deepen it over time.

Practical Ways to Cultivate Holy Mourning

How can we apply this in daily life?

Pray for the Gift of Tears – Ask God to give you a heart that weeps for what truly matters.
Confess Your Sins Regularly – Mourning must lead to repentance and action.
Fast with Purpose – Let your hunger remind you of your spiritual hunger for God.
Mourn Over the State of the World – Not in hopelessness, but in prayer and intercession.